The 5G/6G Hub – based at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) at Harwell in the UK – is a place for collaboration and innovation, where industry will take advantage of the immense potential of converged satellite and terrestrial telecommunications networks to create advanced applications that benefit society and the environment. Benefiting from the support of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) the Hub fits into the UK Government’s 5G and 6G strategy.
While initially focused on 5G, as the connectivity transformation continues, a further generation, 6G, will become part of the Hub and provide even greater capacity.
Developed with information technology company CGI, the 5G/6G Hub enables three types of activities, through the provision of a private 5G network with SatCom connectivity in a business-driven facility designed to engage the wider community.
• Events and Showcases
The ESA 5G/6G Hub provides a focal point at the Harwell Science & Innovation Campus from where the capabilities enabled by innovative uses of 5G and SatCom technologies can be demonstrated to VIPs, industry, and the general public.
• Engineering Demonstrations and Applications
The ESA 5G Hub provides a location at which Application Developers and Service Providers can come together to test and verify the feasibility and benefits of their 5G converged network applications and services.
• Engineering Lab
The ESA 5G Hub provides an engineering lab within which technical engineering and support can be provided to demonstrate and integrate new 5G and SatCom capabilities and equipment functionalities.
Each of these activities supports the other. The Engineering Lab supports the development of Demonstrators and Applications, and these Demonstrators and Applications support the outreach activities. The support of ESA ensures that the environment is considered “open”: it supports multiple satellite service providers and potentially multiple core networks, radio access nodes etc.
The 5G/6G Hub is a gateway for commercialisation of space-enabled business ideas and multi-domain collaboration. Stakeholders from all vertical sectors are welcome to come and see how hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks can contribute to their business.
ESA’s ambition is to extend the Hub’s technology to cover businesses at the Harwell Campus, and then across Europe and beyond to connect with other research facilities, fostering innovation in ESA’s member states and globally. The 5G/6G Hub forms an integral part of ESA’s wider efforts to use space technology to enable connectivity.
ESA 5G/6G VIRTUAL TOUR
News and Events
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Reinventing Satellite Broadcasting for the 5G Era
Jointly organised by ESA and the 5G Media Action Group (5G-MAG), an interactive online workshop took place on 1st December, opening the door to some exciting collaborations.
Over 181 people joined the online workshop on “reinventing…
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Autonomous shuttle launched at Harwell Campus
UK start-up Darwin Innovation Group has recently launched a fully autonomous passenger shuttle at Harwell Campus, that is utilising integrated satellite and 5G communications for seamless operation. With the support of ESA and the UK Space Agency…
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ESA Signs Agreement to Support In-Orbit Demonstration of Spectrum Monitoring Services
The European Space Agency (ESA), RHEA System Luxembourg, LuxSpace Sarl, Aurora Insight and the European Business Reliance Centre (EBRC) are joining forces for the development and deployment of a European Spectrum Monitoring System leveraging…
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ESA spurs 5G digital connectivity
Efforts to enable seamless connectivity and reduce the digital divide by using telecommunications satellites to enhance terrestrial 5G services have leapt forward.
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ESA accelerates 5G digital transformation
Space-enabled 5G technologies – which will transform connectivity and reinforce the internet of things – have come a step closer, thanks to the formation of a new partnership.
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Opportunity: Demonstration of an experimental 5G g-NodeB in space
This activity will study the implementation of spaceborne 5G regenerative functions in a 5G end-to-end system demonstration incorporating a space segment element. For that purpose, the activity will develop and demonstrate in orbit an…
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Opportunity: Smart and Uncrewed Shipping
In the upcoming Announcement of Opportunity economic operators are invited to propose a Demonstration Project addressing the theme of:
Space for Smart and Uncrewed Shipping: downstream services enabled by 5G and advanced positioning,…
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Space to accelerate the connectivity revolution
A centre for innovation that will showcase how space can enable future generations of telecommunications and connected applications is being developed.
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Opportunity: Space and 5G Convergence: Transport & Logistics
The current opportunity “Space and 5G convergence: Transport & Logistics” is open for companies to submit ideas for demonstration projects focusing on the development and pilot of sustainable downstream services addressing UK Government’s…
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ARTES 4.0 – a new proposal for a new marketplace
The world space market is undergoing a deep transformation fuelled by the digitalisation of the economy and society. At the same time, many governments recognise the growing strategic importance of space.
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10th FOKUS FUSECO FORUM: 5G Reality Check: State Of Play In 5G Technologies, Applications & How To Start With 5G
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Call For Papers: Satellite Networks Integration with 5G
Invitations issued for full paper submission December 2019